Wednesday, July 30, 2014

It is time to upload my creation for the Imagine That Progressive Challenge.
I continue to be so grateful that I am part of this wonderful progressive challenge.
I really love Kris' work and am thrilled to get the opportunity to earn a
fabulous new set each month by
linking up. Thankfully this month it is a Christmas image and you know what that means, one more card added to the Christmas pot to avoid the yearly Christmas Card Panic.

Christmas Card Count to date: 16

This month the images that everyone who is part of the progressive challenge gets to play with are in the wonderful set,Meowy Mousemas...

Love the name and love this set. Just so precious! Kris has a wonderful style and all her images are awesome. Nope, I'm not biased at all! Really!

As always, you can work
with
either the
coloured image, or the line art one. This
particular set also comes with four different sentiments to help you out! If
you missed out, you can still play along by purchasing this set
in the store for a discount during the month of July (click on the image name or watermark above) Of course, you better get
moving if you are interested because there are isn't much of July left!

Here are my card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything important...

FRONT

Digital Image Details:

Meowy Mousemas: Details for how to get a hold of it are included underneath the set preview in the above section.

This time around I have used the outline image and coloured it in with a combination of digital colouring and with Copic markers. Digital Credits include:

I
encourage you to go and check out the digis that Kris offers along with
the Progressive Free Digi Challenge. It is another fun place to shop and play.She also has a sweet Hula Girl up on the blog as a freebie. So, grab it while you can. I'm hoping to do a promotional post sometime by this weekend showcasing all the latest sets that have gone into the IT shop over the past few months. There are so many fabulous ones to choose from!

Finally, all of my progressive challenge cards are done for the month. Good thing since there is only one day left. Thankfully, I got in an extra holiday card too. Don't
forget,
that you can jump in at any time and add your own holiday cards to my 12 Months of Christmas link up.
Click HERE
for all the details. I'll need to get the winner post for July out soon as well.

So much to do, so little time so I better get my butt moving and on to the next thing on my list!

Monday, July 28, 2014

It is time to post my creation for the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge. Just love her images so much! Check out the image we got to work with this month...

So stinkin' cute. For my project this month I decided to create a birthday card with a small modification to the image. Please note that I wrote to Gerda for permission to change the digi first and was granted permission. Should you wish to do the same type of thing, please be sure to always contact the original artist first before altering an image. This image is currently available
in the shop for purchase. For a limited time, spending more than $10 in the store or at Gerda's Doodles etsy store and you'll receive the image for free. Click HERE or on the watermark above to go and check it out in the store.

Kitten in the Moving Box: You can find this image in the store. Details above.
The writing was removed for the purposes of this creation. As noted
above, permission was requested and granted to alter this digi.

This
image was coloured in with Copic Markers. I then used chalk around the image to ground it and coloured pencils for the base.

Digital Sentiment Details:

One I created in Libre Office Draw putting it into a banner shape first.

Embellishments:

The half pearls are Crafts brand, purchased at Dollarama.

The giftbox 3D sticker is also Crafts brand, purchased at Dollarama.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

One I created. Hopefully, I'll be able to recreate it and offer it up as a freebie.

Well
guys, one more progressive post complete, one more to go. I hope that you all have a great week ahead. Hopefully, if I get my card completed tonight, I'll be back
sometime tomorrow to show it to you.

...and a marvellous Monday to you all. Today I have something different planned for you. It is rather long but for those of you who follow me on a regular basis, you know I have the tendency to be a bit verbose. Okay, fine...I am VERY verbose. That is one of the reasons I set up my design posts the way I do, so as to allow people to skim and just focus on the sections they are interested in. So, I do understand if you decide to close this page and move on to the next blog in your list BUT in my heart of hearts, I hope that you choose to stay. If you've ever wanted to get to know me a little better as a person, now is your chance.I know that your time is limited but I am hoping that you'll have the opportunity to read my entire book post even if you have to do it in a couple different sittings. Go and grab a cuppa of your favourite beverage but please come back! It is time to explore a little bit about my creative spirit in a unique kind of blog hop. Actually, it might be more apt to call it a blog tour. Let's start the first leg of the journey, shall we?!I was tagged for this blog hop by an incredible woman that I am very lucky to call friend--Vicky Fortier from Crafting Vicky. Vicky has been part of my life since November 3rd, 2012, a little over a week after I started my blog. She has been by my side ever
since. I have talked about her in my posts many times throughout the past year and a half. In every capacity, she is always there to support me and
encourage me and has truly become a dear friend. One of the things I love most about her is that she isn't afraid
to slap me around when I need it which is an integral part of all good
friendships. Though we are both extremely busy, we always find the time to touch base with each other throughout the week. Very few days, will go by when we don't correspond
about something or other. I have learned so much from this special woman. I admire her for her dedication to her family, for her dedication to her friends and her dedication to her craft. She is so talented, and I truly look up to her! I always refer to her as a card making machine. She creates so many beautiful cards each month and is able to keep up with the demands of a number of design teams. I just don't know how she manages it all! We sit on four different design teams together and she is on two other teams that I lead. Then there is the nine other teams she is on (not including the one she co-leads). Oh, and did I mention, she also has a full time job and four children to raise! She truly is one of the most remarkable people I know. Please be sure to hop over to Vicky's main blog Crafting Vicky. She is also the talented owner of The Darker Side Of Me--Crafting Vicky and the co-ower of Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenges. You won't be disappointed.Vicky tagged me in this post HERE.
It is quite an honour to be tagged by this amazing woman. To be honest,
at first I hesitated and tried to decline but Vicky wouldn't have it. So
here I am and boy is she a tough act to follow. Please be sure to go over and take a look. You'll get to learn a lot more about Vicky's creative process. I certainly found it a fascinating read!

How it all got started...

So how exactly did this creative journey of mine start? Well, as far back as I can remember, I have enjoyed creative activities. When I was little, nothing filled my time better than a colouring book or some scrap paper and a set of crayons. Next, I moved into coloured pencils, then charcoal and by the time I was eight, my parents enrolled me in oil painting classes. As a teenager I did quite a bit of sketching with pencils (hence how Flashback Fridays can exist) but also dabbled in pen and ink and then moved into stained glass. If I ever uncover any of my pieces (they should be all wrapped up in the basement somewhere--I hope), I'll share those with you too. As a young adult I got into crocheting and a bit of knitting although I never really got very far in either. I moved on to cross stitch and then added working with acrylic paints on wood to my repertoire.Then in 2002, my world crashed and burned around me. After I became disabled I had
to let go of the person I was and become someone new based on the things
that my body would no longer allow me to do. The first several years
were very difficult ones and I found myself in a pit of despair for
about three of them. Thankfully, I was able to latch on to a bit of
hope and with the help of my husband, drag myself back up. I began to
adapt and once I let go of the dreams I once had and began to accept
this new reality, I did much better. However, I didn't really have
anything to do to occupy my mind or my hands. So, I simply lived from day to day, doing what I was capable of
around the house (which wasn't much at all unfortunately--still isn't to be honest), watched TV
and read. Once I was able to sit for longer periods, I did manage to
get back into some painting and do a little cross stitch each evening
because with that I could just stretch out on the couch to work on it
and take the pressure of my back. Then in November of 2011, I made my
first card and over the course of the next few months created a few
more. Shortly afterwards, I discovered the card making world that lay within the
Internet. Well, I can tell you, my world has never been the same since. I
certainly couldn't have imagined that this is where the main focus of
my life would end up. Two years ago I barely knew what a blog was, then
during the spring of 2012 as I was able to spend a bit more time at the
computer (with lots of breaks for laying down and easing the pressure of course), I began to learn about an online world where the generosity of
many abounds and inspiration is metered out daily. So, after seven
months of sitting back and watching from a distance, I decided it was
time to jump into the foray myself. I haven't looked back.Some of you may wonder
how my blog title came into existence. Well, that was an easy decision for me. I've always been a sucker for alliteration so any time that I would do something creative for the hubs, my parents, my friends, or even for myself, I would call them my 'Décosse's Dynamite Doodles'. It was only fitting that my blog go by the same name. Though I can only imagine how 'Décosse' is being pronounced in people's minds. It tends to get butchered--a lot. So here is a little lesson in how you say my married name. The 'De' is actually pronounced like the word DAY. Then, since I am sure you are already cussing at me for how long this post is, keep that in mind because the second syllable is pronounced like 'CUSS'. The 'e' on the end is silent. So, there you have it, DAYCUSS.

Why do I write/create what I do?

That is like asking why do I
breathe. Creating is part of me: mind, body and soul. To not be be
allowed to expend my energy in a creative way would be a sure way to
diminish the light within me. For the first time in many, many years, I
once again feel like I have purpose and if you've ever struggled with
the question of why you exist, you know that having a purpose changes
you from simply living to having a life. Crafting and writing helps
give meaning to my life allowing me to live it passionately and
sincerely. However, as I'm on the verge of an existential lecture, it
is time to move on to the next question.

What do I create?

When I started this particular creative journey, the focus was on cards. Then I became fascinated with the idea of creating sentiments and other types of freebies. It was certainly one more way of showcasing my skills and also a great way to bring in readers to my blog. As I became more involved with design team duties, I began to share some story telling based on the wonderful images that I worked with. As time went on, I became enthralled with the idea of designing digital papers as this opened me up to another aspect of the scrapbooking community. That naturally led me to the creation of other digital embellishments such as ribbons, frames, brads, etc. This new world of digital creation is just opening up and there is still so much yet to explore.

What am I working on right now?

What am I not working on would be the more appropriate question. Have you seen my 'to do' lists???!!! I've got four cards in the works right at this moment, one for my Scribbles Design midway card that comes out on Friday, one to showcase one of the new releases for Fresh Brewed Designs coming out next Monday and also my creations for two of the progressive challenges I'm part of, Imagine That and Gerda Steiner Designs also due out this week. I'm also working on something digital that I have planned for you, showcasing Nicecrane Designs plus I'm in the planning stages of putting a couple more cards together with ND images.

On top of that, I am working on putting together a special challenge for one of the companies I represent coming out in August that I am not going to say another word about. You'll just have to stay tuned. And of course, I'm busy getting everything set for our next challenge over at the Path of Positivity, which starts next week. Oh and then there is the winners post from the last challenge due tomorrow that I haven't even started yet and the DT Delight post due at the end of the week that I'm in the process of getting ready as well. I'm also working on some digital papers for one of the winners. For Creative Bug Digis, I'm busy working on getting things organized for the team for the remaining challenges this year. That is due next week too.Then of course I have some story lines I'm working on for the FBD release and also have to get ones that I've completed, typed up for some older new releases over at Scribbles Designs. There is also a promotional post that I am working on for Imagine That Digis by Kris.Since the end of the month is coming up, I also need to start getting the next paper done for the 12 Months of Christmas and of course get the winner's post completed for that as well. I'm also in the middle of putting together a digital kit for a challenge that will be coming out on a blog I am sponsoring September 1st. Of course the DT needs it ASAP so it is currently one of my priorities. Then there is the exciting new partnership between myself and Sandy Sommerfeld, owner of Scribbles Designs. We're launching a new adventure called Scribble Doodle Designs where I take her wonderful images and create digital papers and other goodies with them. We'll also be creating what I call hybrid sets were we'll be offering three or four of Sandy's unique digital images along with some of my papers. Our launch is coming later this week (fingers crossed), so please stay tuned for that as well.Yes, I truly am juggling all those things at the same time and that is just what I'm working on this week! There are tons of other things coming up after that too! To be honest, sometimes I really don't know how I get it all accomplished. My higher power must definitely be looking out for me!

How does my creative process work?

One of the things I do, allows me to take my writing skills in a different direction. For most of my career, I put together lesson plans and work sheets and wrote manuals. It is now fun to be able to explore the creative side of writing in order to bring some of the images I work with to life with little story lines. You see, I have a rather vivid imagination. I can literally see and hear little
adventures unfolding around me when I look at certain digis.
Especially when the digis are images of characters. It all got started one day when I decided that instead of simply listing the new releases in my post for a
couple of the companies that I worked with, I'd share the stories that
were in my head as well. I was a bit anxious about this because the
things that I saw, may not necessarily have meshed up with the ideas the
original artists had for them. However, as it turned out, the artists were very happy with what I came up with. So what once started out as just another outlet for my creativity, morphed into an actual additional position as a Strategic Content Developer for two of the teams I am part of. I generally like to take a group of images and mull over them for a while until inspiration strikes and I come up with the perfect adventures. Then it is just a matter of putting it all together and sharing it with all of you. I know that not everyone reads these stories but I do know that several of you get a kick out of them and can't wait to see what happens next. I write for you!

When it comes to cards, the process is a little bit different. Unfortunately, with everything that I do, I don't have to time to work on anything other than DT work and the progressive challenges that I am part of so the creative process for putting my cards together for those circumstances is a little different than if I were merely making a card for no other reason than I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I love what I am doing and wish there was more I could do to support the particular artists that I work for. So it isn't a negativity that I don't have the time to simply make cards for myself, it is a choice, but it does make the whole creative process different. Therefore I am going to focus my answer on the stuff I'm currently working on.When I am given a specific image to work with, that is where I start. If I get to choose the image then the first thing that I do is check out the theme. From there I decide what kind of card I will be making. I have a lot of birthday cards that I need to make each year so the first thing I do is see whether the theme and/or image allows me to make one of those. If birthday won't work then it is a matter of finding an occasion that will. I always try to have some get well cards, thank you ones, sympathy cards and thinking of you ones on hand as well. Christmas and holiday cards are a whole other kettle of fish. When deciding what occasion the card will be for, I try to make sure that my needs are going to be covered for cards that I need to send out. From there I decide who the card is being made for. If I get to choose the image, this is where that step would come in. Once I know the theme and the image, then it is time to decide on my layout. Sometimes I may decide to go with something simple and sometimes it might end up being more elaborate. It really depends on what I want the focus of the card to be on. The more the focus on the image, the less elaborate the layout. Next, it is all about choosing the right embellishments. Where the card is being mailed to plays a big part in how I design a card as well. Unfortunately, the more elaborate and thick the card is, the more expensive it is to mail. Especially when it is being mailed outside the country. So, for the most part, that is why I have to keep my cards streamlined. I'd love to be able create elaborate cards but when it costs, $8.00 to mail, it becomes a bit much. I only hope that people realize that the cards that I spend less time on, do not have any less love in them than the bigger projects. A piece of my heart goes into everything I create. It is a good thing that all the cells in our body regenerate so that I can continue to give pieces of myself away!

As far as my digital design work goes, my creative process will differ. It depends on what I need to create and largely from inspiration which I get into more detail below.

How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

The first part of this question is relatively easy, the second part, not so much. When it comes to digital design, I can be inspired by anything. Just the other day, I came across the inside of a book jacket that has inspired me to create a digital paper. It isn't the first time either. I am inspired by patterns in clothing and furniture as well. Nature inspires me too. I am also inspired by the beautiful papers and creations that I see around me. I don't know what it is about the paper pads available in New Zealand, but I've found myself inspired time and time again by papers that my friend Suze from Crafting Suze, uses in her cards. I'll see a digital image or a vintage image and get inspired by that as well. Colours, patterns, textures, images and shapes, oh my! My eyes come across a bevy of things to be inspired by on a daily basis. Unfortunately though, creating from scratch is very time consuming. As I am just starting out with digital design it is important that I get some work out there. So thankfully, I am also very lucky to have a plethora of commercial use images, brushes, patterns and templates at hand to get myself off the ground. While I have done some stuff from scratch, a lot of it has relied on the availability of these resources so generously shared by others. With my plate so full, I don't have the time I'd really like to devote to my design work. However, since I'm not willing to let anything go, I'll just have to live and be happy with, what I do get done. As far as card making goes, I'm mainly inspired by you guys. You my friends are so talented that I'm always seeing ideas to work with or layouts to try. Any time I come across a blog where there is something that catches my eye, I download an image of it. Not only do I have a folder on my computer full of sketches and layouts to try, I also have an exercise book that I draw in so that I can have them at hand when I am downstairs. I also have over 250 folders (no word of a lie), each labelled with the blog's address so that I know exactly where the picture came from. That doesn't include another temporary inspiration file that I've set up with dozens more ideas! I have one book and several magazines but for the most part, it really is the cards that I come across in blog land that give me ideas. A shape here, a pattern there, a button from one and an embellishment from another. It is amazing how it can all come together. Sometimes I can just be inspired by what is available in my stash. It really does depend on the project and the day.The inspiration for my story telling is an easy one as well. When you work with great artists, it is easy to be inspired to create stories to accompany them. I have so many stories currently in my head that I just need to get down on paper. Once again, it is a matter of time and trying to balance my story telling along with my card and digital design work. If only I didn't need to sleep! Staying inspired is another thing. At times, especially when I am feeling a little burnt out, and I've got deadlines looming, my mojo will take that opportunity to go on a world wide vacation. Those are the times I definitely find myself flipping through file folders to help find something to motivate me.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

The 'me' a
year ago would have said, "well that is easy...everyone else is so much
better than I am". However, learning to stop comparing myself to others
is something that I have been diligently working on so I won't say
that.I guess one thing about my card making that
differs from a lot of designers out there is that I always complete the
inside of my cards (okay at least 99% of the time). While there are
some people out there that also do this, I've observed that the majority
of the people I've personally come across, don't. When I would get
down on the fact that it would take me so long to get one card done,
Vicky would be there to point out to me that essentially, I was creating
two cards for every card she was doing. As always, Vicky was there to
help put things into perspective for me.The second
place where I differ is that I am extremely detailed in my post writing
which leads to rather long posts. When I first started browsing the
posts of a number of card makers, I was often left with questions as to
the person's process or what products they used. One of my pet peeves
is when I come across a blog where someone has used an image and there
is no credit information. Not only is including this information part
of the terms that the person agreed to when downloading or purchasing
the image but is also just respectful in general. Additionally, I
personally want to ensure that I provide credit and links where possible
to anyone who has been generous enough to share their digital resources
with me, even when they don't require credit. Without these incredible
artists offering up their resources for me to work with, I'd never be
able to create the things I do. So, the one thing that I decided was
that when I started my own blog, I'd include as much detail as
possible. I know that some people hate it but I also know that some
people appreciate it. I have had many comments stating how much they
liked the level of detail I include. So, like I said in my first
paragraph, that is one of the reasons I set up my posts with clearly
laid out sections and titles. This way people can just hone in on what
they are interested in and skip through the rest.

The blog tour continues...

I have tagged 3 creative friends, who will be sharing their creative journey's with you next week on Monday, August 4th, 2014. They are: Pat Martin from Patacake's PagesI met Pat back in the fall of last year through my challenge blog, the Path of Positivity. At that time she had been entering challenges for a couple months and had won as both the Voter's Choice and the Most Inspirational in the September Challenge. We started talking at that time and she let me know how much she enjoyed participating in our challenges. We as a team were always thrilled to see not only her creations but also what she had to say on our theme each month. Often during the month, I'd receive
a message from one or more of our team members stating, "oh you have to go and see what Pat has written" because she always had something so positive and
incredible to share in her posts. We were very fortunate to procure Pat as a full time team member in January of this year. Since joining she has added another role to her job description as she writes for a special column we have called, "Ponderings Along the Pathway". If you haven't read any of her positive reflections then you are truly missing out on something incredible. Along with a proclivity for writing, Pat also makes really wonderful projects with a focus in mixed media art. You can find all her creative endeavours on her blog. She has the cutest little poem under her blog banner which sums her up perfectly:

Ink colors my fingers, and glitter coats my hair.

My craft room's like a crime scene with Copics everywhere.

I seem to've lost my scissors; I should clean, but where to start?

It really doesn't bother me 'cause my heart is in my art.

Now there is a woman I can relate to!

Gloria Shirr of Purpleglo CreationsGloria is a wonderful woman who I am getting to know better and better as time goes by. She is a consultant with Close To My Heart and often has give-a-ways on her blog. I've been lucky enough to win prizes in the last two I've signed up for so I always make sure to keep abreast of what she is up to! While Gloria has been a follower of my blog for some time, it is through her involvement as a participant and supporter of the Path of Positivity that I have gotten to know her even better. Gloria has been entering our challenges since I created the separate blog for it back in May of last year. She entered as many of her cards as she could manage, in each and every challenge. Now for most people, it would be so they would have better odds for winning. Not so with Gloria. For her, it has always been about spreading the word about our challenges. She always makes sure that she includes a paragraph or two talking about how her card ties into the theme and about the challenge itself. On two separate occasions, she has also donated images she has won back for other purposes. Gloria is one of those people who I created the challenge for. It is more important for her to spread the positivity and help inspire others than it is to bask in the glory of her creations. I am truly lucky to have someone like Gloria not only as a supporter but also as a friend. She also creates the most beautiful cards that you can find on her blog. and last but certainly not least...Sandy Sommerfeld of Scribbles By Sandy, Scribbles Designs & The Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. Oh my goodness. What to say about Sandy!
Like Vicky, Sandy has been part of my life since the first week my blog was in business. She was also the first person to ever give me a spot on a
design team for her own challenge blog. What makes this uniquely special is that she had only ever
seen one of my cards; yet, she trusted in my abilities enough to
give me a chance representing her wonderful line of images. I don't
think she realizes how much of a boost in confidence her faith gave me.
A few
months later, she created a
special promotion for me and I became the Strategic Content Developer
for Scribbles Designs. Sandy has so much trust in me that she doesn't
even want to proof what I have to say about the digis before the posts
come out. She prefers to be happily surprised when they pop up on the
blog. This act of trust in me has also elevated my confidence.

Sandy
also jumped on board the Path of Positivity, first as an advisor, then
as a team member and finally as an on going sponsor. If I consider Vicky a card making machine, well then Sandy is a digital image making machine. She is
continuously coming up with new ideas and publishing new digis at a
phenomenal rate. I can't keep up with the woman. Besides all that, she creates beautiful cards which she shares on her personal blog Scribbles By Sandy.

As I eluded to above, Sandy and I are also starting up a unique partnership together which you will get to read more about very soon. I truly am so lucky to have this special woman in my life.

I truly hope that you will have the time next week to visit each of these lovely ladies. Thanks Vicky for pushing me to do this. It has been an interesting week sitting back and reflecting on each of these questions.

What is next for me?

Well, only time will tell won't it?! I have big dreams and big plans. With hard work, perseverance and a little luck thrown in along the way, I just might see some of those dreams realized. I want to thank all of you for being part of this journey with me and I hope that you'll continue to be by my side as my future unfolds. As always, I appreciate your wonderful words of encouragement. Your visits mean everything especially considering how infrequently I am able to go over and visit with you. Thanks for believing in me. The journey just wouldn't be the same without you.

Now, if you've managed to make it all the way to the bottom, I want to truly thank you for sticking in there with me; so, I've got a special treat for you. A freebie that only those who manage to get to the end, will know about as I'm not advertising it anywhere else. Oh and just so you know, the 'Hello' at the top and the quote in the 'why do I write/create...' section above are also freebies if you are interested. The font for 'hello' is Impact Label by Tension Type and the fonts are Jenna Sue by Jenna Sue Design Co. and Kingthings Willow by Kingthings. This extra freebie is a digital paper that I created last year for a winner over at Creative Bug on the Loose for a Saturday Sneak Peek that they got correct. I think enough time has gone by that I can safely share it with the rest of you.

To grab this paper click HERE
or on the preview above to be taken to a download location. In the zip
folder you will find a copy of the paper, its preview sheet, the credit
information and my terms of use
which are standard to all my folders. As
usual,the paper is 3600 x 3600 pixels (i.e. 12 inches) and published
at 300 dpi.

Well guys, it has finally come to a conclusion. Thank you so much for sticking in there and reading to the end. It means more than you'll ever know.

As you read above, it is a rather busy week so I'll definitely be seeing you all real soon!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Happy Hump Day everyone! I've got some freshly brewed inspiration to serve up to you today as I'm here with a reminder about the latest challenge going on over at Fresh Brewed Designs. Right now we are halfway through our By the Sea / Summer Challenge which means you have one more week to get your entries in.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES TO WIN!

This challenge ends Tuesday, August 5th.

You can enter up to 5 times with your NEW creations (no back linking please).

One winner will be chosen by random draw to receive 3 digis of their choice.

Anyone
who uses an FBD image for any of the JULY challenges will have the
opportunity to win some yummy blog candy! Just put FBD after your name
and make sure you tell us about it in your post! Check out what you
could win, simply for using an FBD image. Pretty good incentive, I'd
say...

(BLOG CANDY FOR USA RESIDENTS ONLY!
If you win the blog candy and you live outside of the USA, you will be
given a digital stamp gift card for the same value of the candy. However, IF you
would like to pay shipping to receive the blog candy, Heather is willing to do that
too. Unfortunately, she just can't afford to pay shipping outside of the USA at this
time. Thank you so much for your understanding.)

For all the challenge details including the link up, please click HERE or on the badge above.

Here is a card that I have created to help inspire you...

General information:

Okay, so it is apparent that this card needs an explanation. While hobbling around is my given 'go-to' considering my physical circumstances (it is difficult for me to walk unaided), these past two years it has been even worse as I hadn't been able to afford to see my chiropodist. I've been relying on the same pair of insoles for over five years and let's just say that they are basically in tatters. It is difficult to explain but the bone in the heel of my foot is trying to come out the bottom of my foot. Well, I suppose not literally, but it is much lower than it should be (I told you this was difficult to explain). Therefore, if I walk around without my special insoles for more than an hour or two, I am in significantly more pain. So, it was time to give in and go see the foot doctor and I went a couple weeks ago to get moulded for a new set of insoles. Now our chiropodist is the most wonderful, down to earth person and I just love her to pieces. She is always so kind and goes out of her way to make sure that I am comfortable throughout the entire process. Thus, I thought that it would be a nice gesture to bring a card in when I pick up my insoles next week. I hope she likes it!

How it fits into the summer time theme is that the background of the card has a bit of a boardwalk feel, the flip flops are of course summer footwear and my sentiment on the inside is summer related. So I managed to put together a summery card for a unique occasion.

FRONT

Digital Image Details:

Summer Flip Flops:
The main image on the front is the flowered set of flip flops. Heather offers two different images in this set all for the low price of $3.00. The set is currently available in
the FBD store. You can find it by clicking
on the image name or watermark below.

The image was coloured in with a combination of digital painting and with Copic Markers.

The embossed paper piecing for the base of the flip flops was done with a paper I created using an overlay from Marisa Lerin. This template was purchased at Pixel Scrapper. I then shaded it digitally to give it some depth.

The remaining elements were coloured with a variety of Copic Markers.

Here is a close up showing you the texture in the flip flops...

I made extra copies of the flowers in a couple different sizes so that I could fussy cut them and build them up with some pop dots to give the image some dimensionality. Here is a closer look from the side. I also popped up the base too for some extra depth.

Digital Sentiment:

One I created. I layered it right on to the background before printing.

***Please note if anyone has a hard time understanding the connection to summer, please read the last point in my 'general info' section up at the top of this post.

Thanks
for stopping by and taking a look. I hope you have the chance to go
and check out the Flip Flop images I used,along with all the other
great images available in the store. I also hope you get the chance to enter our current challenge.

If you are looking for more fresh brewed inspiration, I'll be back in a couple weeks to
showcase a card made with one of the fantastic new releases Heather has
planned for August. It is a rather unique image that I have fallen for. So, I hope you'll come back and check out the great new images at that time.

At Fresh Brewed Designs we always have a fresh pot
of creativity brewing. So stop by and join us for a cuppa whenever you
want!

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About Me

Hi! My name is Lisa and welcome to my blog. Whether drawing, painting, cross-stitching, card making, or doing nail art, I've been 'creating' since I was knee high to a grasshopper. At the end of 2011, I really started getting interested in the world of card making and nail art. I knew that there were already a lot of creative card makers, digi stamp designers, and nail artists out there and I continue to learn a lot from them, but I needed a place to showcase my work so I could enter some challenges and as a result, created this blog in October of 2012.
I live in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. I am happily married to my college sweetheart and we have been married for over 27 years. We were never blessed with children so our 'babies' have always been cats. Currently, we have one female tabby named Marigold.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a blast!

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